Five Decades at Sea: ‘Argo Merchant’ Oil Spill Drift Card Turns Up on Scottish Isle

A plastic drift card from one of America’s most significant oil spills has surfaced on a Scottish beach after nearly five decades at sea.

Barbara Payne, while cleaning debris from her property on Scotland’s Isle of Coll following an October 2024 storm, found a red, credit-card sized plastic item with instructions in multiple languages to contact NOAA in Boulder, Colorado.

The card’s origin traces back to the December 1976 Argo Merchant disaster, when the 640-foot tanker ran aground off Nantucket Island. The vessel, operating with faulty instruments and 24 miles off course, broke apart six days after grounding, releasing 7.5 million gallons of oil – marking the largest U.S. tanker spill at that time.

While the card’s exact path remains unknown, it’s journey from Massachusetts to Scotland was facilitated by the North Atlantic Gyre, a clockwise-rotating current system that carries objects from the U.S. East Coast toward Europe.

The finding also serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of plastics on the environment. While the oil from the spill has long since dissipated, the plastic card remains relatively good condition even after all these years adrift.

The Argo Merchant disaster led to the formation of the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), which became a center of expertise for preparing for, evaluating, and responding to coastal threats—including oil and chemical spills, hazardous waste releases, and marine debris.

Modern oil spill tracking has evolved beyond plastic drift cards to more environmentally conscious methods, with current drift cards made from biodegradable wood and non-toxic paint.

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